Video: Iowa Republican shocked to learn that Palin endorsed him

posted at 8:47 pm on June 7, 2010 by Allahpundit

A fun clip, and noteworthy for Palin fans given the state involved. It’s Terry Branstad, who served as governor from 1983 to 1999 and was known for a bit o’ tax-and-spending in his time when he wasn’t busy appointing a pro-choicer to be lieutenant governor. Question: Er, why would Sarahcuda back a guy like him instead of “true conservative” upstart Bob Vander Plaats, the de facto Chuck DeVore of this race? She’s … not really saying:

Iowa, your great state’s motto is “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.” That motto will be well served by voting for Terry Branstad for governor next Tuesday!

Please join me in supporting Governor Branstad’s campaign. Visit his website here, and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

– Sarah Palin

That’s the whole post; follow the link for unhappy comments. So why’d she do it? Well, Branstad’s way ahead and Huckabee distinguished himself as Vander Plaats’s biggest booster long ago, so Palin probably made a hard choice and backed the guy who’s most likely to win in a state that’ll be crucial to her if she takes the plunge in 2012. (Minor complicating factor: Romney endorsed Branstad a while ago so there’s no assurance for Palin of a reciprocal endorsement from TB down the line.) It’s the same situation as California, really, where Sarahcuda snubbed DeVore to back a candidate who’s more likely to be in a position to do her a favor eventually. Grassroots righties aren’t happy — check out this stemwinder from an Iowa blogger declaring that Palin has committed political suicide — but who cares? They were unhappy after she backed McCain and Fiorina and got over that. What’s one more minor cynical endorsement if it helps her strategically? Exit question for Palinistas: Heart-ache?

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No heartache. Sarah does what she wants to do for her own reasons. People need to learn to deal with that. If backing this guy helps her get to the WH, no problem. She’ll be better than the guy presently partying our money away. Does this mean she’s less than a principled Conservative? IMO, no. Sometimes you have to make strategic choices that other people or even you don’t like in order to achieve your objective. Purity is nice, but it doesn’t always take you home.

I am surprised that anyone outside of her camp believes she is capable of having a strategy. I don’t live in the state and have no dog in the fight but if I really thought highly of a candidate I doubt Gov. Palin would make or break my decision on who to vote for.

I don’t know where people got the idea that Sarah Palin was way out there on the right fringe. Compared to Obama, yes, but I’ve never seen any evidence that she’s a political purist. Yes, she’s pro-choice, pro-2nd-amendment, pro-military, pro-capitalist, and a budget hawk, but that’s what I’d call center-right. Should be the center.

Being from Iowa, I have to say that regardless of Branstad’s issues, VP is on his third(?) running for governor (he’s run every four years it seems like since Branstad left office) and he /still/ does not seem very electable to me.

After three terms of Dem governors, the Iowa GOP I think wants a guy who has shown he can win.

Though my parents dragged me to Chit-cago when I was 2 1/2 and I seem to be stuck here, I’m actually from Iowa originally. My late father graduated from high school with RINO-extraordinaire Jim Leach.
I would love to see my home state make a turn back to the right.
Thanks Gov. Palin.
GO TERRY!

“Where I live in Sioux City, Iowa, I’m not Sarah Palin, I can’t see Russia, but I can see South Dakota. You know who ranks No. 1 in the country for hospitable business environment? South Dakota,” he said. “I tell people all over the state, as soon as we make Sioux City, Iowa, competitive with North Sioux City, South Dakota, we’ve opened up this state for business. I believe we can be the next economic engine in the country.”

One year ago I made a comment on Palin’s future endorsements that I knew that no matter who she endorsed there were going to be occasions where I did not totally agree with her choices but I resolved to understand them.

One year later yes Palin has made some endorsements that I am behind 100% but hey I’m not going to drop her like a hot potato because of who she endorsed.

Now if Palin decided to become a Lefty and spout redistribution of income, RINO politics and be for cap and trade I could change my mind but Palin is who she is, a Reagan conservative. How many Reagan conservatives are really electable for POTUS right now? Not too many my friends.

A petty remark is enough to deter her from endorsing the supposedly “true conservative” candidate? Seems equally shallow.

Bee on June 7, 2010 at 9:09 PM

She’s shown herself to be pretty savvy at judging people’s character. Remember all the petty misogynistic whining and sniping that came out of the DeVore camp when she endorsed Fiorina. They revealed their true colors then, but she had their number all along.

Actually the real endorsement that counts is Haley. Palin will probably not win IA (but who knows), and most certainly won’t win NH, MI, WY, NV (all Romney). But with Haley in SC, and with that type of electorate, that’s the state where she could win it and go to FL full spead ahead.

… She’s got my number. If it doesn’t work out with Todd, she knows where I am.

Seven Percent Solution on June 7, 2010 at 9:14 PM

I got her letter today and her call yesterday. I’m going to write her a check since she seems to be gearing up but I will have to add a note that I gave her a special $110.00 contribution for a signed book and when she got her one millionth Facebook member and I never got the signed book :(

I am surprised that anyone outside of her camp believes she is capable of having a strategy. I don’t live in the state and have no dog in the fight but if I really thought highly of a candidate I doubt Gov. Palin would make or break my decision on who to vote for.

She’s shown herself to be pretty savvy at judging people’s character. Remember all the petty misogynistic whining and sniping that came out of the DeVore camp when she endorsed Fiorina. They revealed their true colors then, but she had their number all along.

VidOmnia on June 7, 2010 at 9:15 PM

I don’t deny her (possible) shrewdness. But is she a good judge of character or pragmatically gaging a situation and choosing the most personally advantageous path? Just questions.

Sometimes one should just keep their mouth shut. Even with Palin’s endorsement was still leaning towards VanderPlaats.

He should have perhaps remembered Reagan’s rule about not publicly speaking ill of other Republicans, especially one that is respected by many (myself included) and isn’t running against him in the race.

You’re saying she’s a pragmatist. Kind of like Newt? I’m simply trying to pin down the her endorsement “philosophy” here. :)

Bee on June 7, 2010 at 10:04 PM

From what I see, she tends toward candidates that;
1. Haven’t said stupid things on film, or posted on their websites.
2. Bring some sense that they have what used to be called “character.”
3. Can win.

She doesn’t (as others have pointed out) pick the most conservative candidate; just the most conservative candidate who can win.

Branstad and Haley are Conservatives. Yet one look at the thread(s) and the mindless anti-Sarah drivel is so over-the-top laughable that it’s obvious they never even took the time to learn about the candidates themselves.

-—Branstad’s Pro-Life, Pro-Gun, Pro-Family. Best governor the state had.

-—He implemented spending reform measures and streamlined state government from 64 departments to 25.

-—Cut $700 million out of the budget.

-—Cut income tax by 10%

-—Eliminated the inheritance tax.

-—When he left office Iowa had a $900 million surplus after tax cuts were made.

-—He voted against collective bargaining.

-—He helped the accommodation for home educating in Iowa become law (and I certainly thank him for that).

-—He implemented tax tuition credits, as well as, arrangements for books and busing agreements between public and private schools.

-—Passed the Defense of Marriage Act

He held the Governorship for 16 years until he left, was a favorite of Ronald Reagan’s, and currently holds a 70% approval rating.

For the record, that’s:
An Exceptional record on Life Issues,
An Exceptional record on Family/Social Issues,
An Exceptional Record on Homeschooling Issues,
An Exceptional record on Second Amendment Issues.
Real budget cuts (not just cuts in the rate of increase, REAL cuts)
Real reduction in state workers – actually CLOSED Departments.
Elimination of Inheritance tax altogether.
10% Income tax cut.
REAL record fighting public school union thugs.

I’ll take Branstad’s record any day of the week. I find it laughable (and quite revealing) that people are trying to feign outrage over this endorsement.

36 posted on Monday, June 07, 2010 4:55:27 PM by TitansAFC (“At that point in time (2000 race), McCain was as conservative if not more so than GWB.” — pissant)

My opinion is that if you want my support in 2012 you better get your ass into the bush in 2010. We need to take the House and the candidate that does the most to accomplish that will have my support in 2012. Palin is working it, pretty shrewdly, and I greatly appreciate that.

the people upset with Palin are the same anti-palin haters that were “upset” with the carly pick and the McCain pick and everything else Palin does. Palin has endorsed conservatives across the board. some might argue they are not as conservative as other losers like Devore but no one can say that her picks do not all campaign as pro-life, pro-gun, limited government, cut spending conservatives.

this is nothing but another attempt by the anti-palin forces like Allah attempting to drive a wedge betwenn Palin and her conservative base.

I’ll share a comment from a friend. Can’t take credit but thought it worth repeating, with reference to all this noise about whom Sarah endorsed or didn’t and the purity of her conservative genes (and, please, don’t start — yes, genes, not jeans). Anyway, to the comment, which I quote:

“My wife and I don’t agree on everything, either, but I wouldn’t trade her for anyone else in the world. And, in a pinch, I know who’s got my back.”

I’d say we’re headed for a pinch or two in this country.

So, I’d suggest putting away the nit-picking tools everyone loves to grab and getting ready to mount the charge to take back our nation. Now, on the dawn of that battle, who do you want at the point of the spear, pointed toward the enemy?

I’d say Sarah Palin.

Or, I could stick out my lower lip and sit in a corner and let my country be dismantled because I didn’t think her endorsement of some fellow in Iowa in June of 2010 passed my true believer test.

I think, for my two cents (soon to be worth about a cent and a half), I’ll be out there, on the battlefield.

So, far Romney’s been able to get a fair number of people in elected in office. How many of Palin’s endorsements have been successfully elected?

Conservative Samizdat on June 8, 2010 at 1:38 AM

Bullcrap. Mittens hardly ever endorses unless it’s a sure thing – witness how he endorsed Susana Martinez AFTER she won the primary, for Christ’s sake. Yeah, he endorsed Nikki Haley a while back, after which she remained mired in 4th place in a 4-way race. It was when Palin endorsed her that she jumped into a rocket sled and jumped 20 points ahead of the competition.

Why hack off the probable governor of the first primary state to back a buddy of Huckabee’s who has publicly dissed you?

bw222 on June 7, 2010 at 10:27 PM

Right. I’m suggesting that her endorsements are governed more by pragmatic self interest rather than “party purity” as some have thought. I’m not knocking her for that necessarily. Just raising it as a point of interest.

From what I see, she tends toward candidates that;
1. Haven’t said stupid things on film, or posted on their websites.
2. Bring some sense that they have what used to be called “character.”
3. Can win.

She doesn’t (as others have pointed out) pick the most conservative candidate; just the most conservative candidate who can win.

This is real world politics. I love all the second-guessing of Palin’s principles and policies. OMG, she actually has a mind of her own, and can think outside the box. According to the “conservative purists”, Palin should only go for someone who toes the line on every conservative principle. In the REAL WORLD of American politics–the INDEPENDENTS want someone who has principles, but also isn’t so ridgid that they are unwilling to compromise. THAT is politics, and it doesn’t make you a RINO if you maintain the CORE conservative values.
When elected governor, Branstad was, at age 35, the youngest chief executive in Iowa history; and, when he left office, he was Iowa’s longest-serving governor. He was one of the most popular governor’s Iowa ever had. He also knew how to promote Iowa, at a time when the economy was in the slumps.
Palin knows all about Branstad’s career as governor of Iowa. She knows a good governor when she sees one. I’m voting today, for Terry!

“Where I live in Sioux City, Iowa, I’m not Sarah Palin, I can’t see Russia, but I can see South Dakota. You know who ranks No. 1 in the country for hospitable business environment? South Dakota,” he said. “I tell people all over the state, as soon as we make Sioux City, Iowa, competitive with North Sioux City, South Dakota, we’ve opened up this state for business. I believe we can be the next economic engine in the country.”
Dumb statement.

bw222 on June 7, 2010 at 9:11 PM

Only “dumb” if you have no idea of the growth of Sioux Falls, vs the decline in the Sioux City area. Looks like Van der Plaats get it more than your typical welfare check seeing Harkin voter.

Grassroots righties aren’t happy — check out this stemwinder from an Iowa blogger declaring that Palin has committed political suicide — but who cares? They were unhappy after she backed McCain and Fiorina and got over that. What’s one more minor cynical endorsement if it helps her strategically? Exit question for Palinistas: Heart-ache?

Allahpundit – Apparently you and some others want to believe that all Palin supporters are rabid ideologues who expect Palin to impale herself on the spike of party purity. IMO her endorsements tend to prove that she is not the fringe “litmus test” candidate the anti-Palin crowd accuse her of being.

Her endorsements are exactly that – HER choices – not yours, not mine. Some of the people she supports will succeed – some won’t.

Now, Branstad is the smart choice (IMO), given the fact that when he left office, he left Iowa with a nice tidy surplus. Vilsack soon squandered that, like any good liberal would do.

Also, those who have an issue with Branstad and gambling in Iowa should do a bit of research. I remember when he wasn’t even keen on the idea of allowing scratch tickets, since that’s usually the only “open door” needed for full-on gambling to take hold in any state. And he was right too…We now have oodles and oodles of Iowa’s senior citizens traveling out to the Prairie Meadows Race Track and Casino in Altoona Iowa, on a regular basis, taking their social security money with them.

Is he THE most conservative candidate? Prolly not. But remember, this is DEEP BLUE Iowa. For us conservatives who live and work here, he’s the closest thing we’ll get (and a step in the right direction) to a more conservative approach of governing.

Vander Plaats should be out of the running, simply because Mr Mike “Pimpin’ My Religion” Huckabee endorsed him. Let us not forget that the huckster “pimped his religion” while campaigning in Iowa, then moved on to New Hampshire where he quickly stopped putting it on display because he knew it wouldn’t fly up there.

Thanks for your breakdown, unseen. Branstad did a good job as governor during his tenure. The attack ads you are seeing are funded by the national DNC, through the Iowans for Responsible Government group, headed by the old democratic committee chair in Iowa. Bleating on and on about conservative values, just trying to split the vote. Branstad is NOT a RINO, he’s just not as far right as VanderPlaats. VP seems a good guy, and he’ll hold Branstad’s feet to the fire on conservative values. But right now Iowans care about righting the ship that Vilsack and Chester have left us. Lots of dems that I know personally are supporting Branstad, and that’s not just in the primary. They are voting for him (if he wins of course, but I’m positive he will) in the general.

They know he can handle the financial aspect of the government. I know it too.

They were unhappy after she backed McCain and Fiorina and got over that.

You’re ridiculous. Whose gotten over the fact that she endorsed Fiorina? The Dennis Prager’s of the world came around to endorsing Fiorina a MONTH later ONLY because she screwed the pooch and polling.

Let me point out that Dennis isn’t an ideological Conservative. He’s a Reagan Democrat who became a Republican because the Leftists took over the Democrat Party and he felt he had no where else to go. He’s a moderate in many areas. I use him because of his public persona but that he’s the BEST EXAMPLE of a large portion of the “REGISTERED” Republicans in the state of California.

Voters like Dennis saw the polls and have made a STRATEGIC DECISION, not an ideological decision. One they were forced to make by SARAH PALIN’S involvement in California politics. Reagan Democrats can hold their nose and vote for Fiorina because they aren’t invested in pure Conservative principals. They figure Fiorina will split the vote with DeVore and give the nod to Campbell who really isn’t a Conservative and have no clue why he’s not a Democrat.

Conservatives will stick with their principals and vote for Chuck DeVore. Actually, I voted this morning and that’s EXACTLY who I voted for Senator. And we will continue to not forgive and will never forget if she screws us and Fiorina’s background catches up with her between now and November that Boxer goes back to DC. Even then, Palin can forget me ever voting for her for office. I look at her as equal to McCain.

They know he can handle the financial aspect of the government. I know it too.

pxystick on June 8, 2010 at 11:23 AM

You must be on drugs. Branstad is as rhino as they come. He more than doubled the state budget, raised damn near every tax he could, picked a Lt. Gov whose claim to fame was being on the board of Planned Parenthood and has already stated that he will not fight the Iowa Supreme Court decision on allowing gay marriage.

Have you ever talked to Branstad?? I have. I tried to have a discussion with him on these issues when he was running for his third term and he basically told me to mind my own business and that people like him knew better.

Yes, heart-ache, indeed. I hate to say it, but it looks like Sarah is setting herself up to be a typical Republican power-broker. She has always been too much the populist to have been a movement conservative (in the W.F.Buckley, Russell Kirk tradition) but I thought at least she would turn into a principled populist. If you are going to say “I-told-you-so”, Allah, I guess I’m about ready to hear it.

Bullcrap. Mittens hardly ever endorses unless it’s a sure thing – witness how he endorsed Susana Martinez AFTER she won the primary, for Christ’s sake. Yeah, he endorsed Nikki Haley a while back, after which she remained mired in 4th place in a 4-way race. It was when Palin endorsed her that she jumped into a rocket sled and jumped 20 points ahead of the competition.

VidOmnia on June 8, 2010 at 3:17 AM

Not true.

Mitt Romney in many cases backs people very early in the races. In other cases, he’ll back someone who he’s sure will win.

The point is that Mitt Romney has a high success rate/track record of getting people he’s endorsed into office. Moreover, his PAC is aggressive in making and collecting donations for political candidates.

I doubt Palin has been as successful as Mitt as getting her politicians that she supports into office.

If you were a candidate and running for office…who would you ask for to endorse you? Palin, Romney or Huckabee?